About the Cover

The placid waters of the Rio Negro in the Brazilian Amazon are the source of tetras, catfish, cichlids, and countless other aquarium fish that have been collected for generations by the piabeiros, the South American fishers of ornamental species for the aquarium trade. Importer Mike Tuccinardi joined the piabeiros of the tiny village of Daracua, Brazil to see firsthand the traditional methods by which they collect many of the fish that we enjoy in our home aquariums. The sustainable methods employed at this very first step of the tropical fish supply chain are detailed in this month’s “Fishing with the Piabeiros of the Brazilian Amazon” (p. 74). Photograph by Mike Tuccinardi

Species Profiles

Tip of the Month:

Unless you have very soft water, you will eventually have to deal with "lime" buildup. When water evaporates, dissolved minerals are left behind as a white film or crust. A razor blade can remove much of the deposit, but this will scratch plastic badly. An easier and dust-free method for glass, plastic, or any other surface is to use a scrubbing pad dampened with household vinegar. The dilute acid quickly dissolves the minerals, and a thorough rinse removes any remaining vinegar.